Garment pressing machine



March 23, 1943. W A HOCH y 2,314,398

GARMENT PRESSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l F163.A BY 777m@ 55m? ATTORNEYS W. A. HOCH GARMENT PRESSING MACHINE March 23, 1943.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 24, 1940 Patented Mar. 23, 1943 2,314,398 GARMEN'D. PREsslNG MACHINE Walter A. Hoch, Forest-Hills, N. Y., assignor to New York Pressing Iron Company, Inc., New York, N. Y.,{a corporation of New York Application December 24, 1940', Serial No. 371,528

2 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and improved pressing machine.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a power-actuated machine for pressing garments, having an improved two-hand control and improved means for holding the press closed under pressure, if the two-hand control is released after the press-head has moved a predetermined distance towards the buck.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pressing machine which is operated by a suitable motor, such as a piston and cylinder, and having improved means which are Wholly independent of a by-pass valve or valves for maintaining the pressure, after the head of the press has been substantially or wholly closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of this type, wholly independent lof a by-pass valve or valves, whereby the machine will be opened if the operator releases one or both of the manual controls, before the machine has been substantially or wholly closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of this type having improved exhaust means for opening the press, after the pressing operation has been completed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine having a minimum number of parts and which will be simple to construct and to operate.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved control system whereby one operator may operate a single pressor operate a plurality of presses.

Other objects of my invention will be set forthv in the following description and drawings which illustrate certain preferred embodiments, it being' understood that the above statement of the objects of my invention is intended generally to explain the same, without limiting it in any manner.

This application is a continuation in part of application Serial No. 292,761, led August 31,-

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the control system which is used in connection with a press.

Fig. 2 illustrates a different position of the control valve which is shown in the upper` part of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 illustrates a diierent position of the lower valve which is shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows the embodiment of Figs. 1-3 as applied to tandem-operated presses.

f Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the table of the tandem-operated presses, according to Fig. 1.

Fig.` 1 shows the pipe 90, which has one end thereof connected to the outlet side of the valvecasing 36. The other end of the pipe is connected to the head 9| of the valve-housing 92. A plunger or valve-spindle 93 fits snugly but slidably in the respective bore of the valve-housing 92. This plunger 93 has respective heads 94 and 95. A compression spring 96 normally maintains the head in contact with the flexible diaphragm 91. The diaphragm 91 has its periphery clamped between the head of the housing 92, and a supplemental rigid clamping head 98. The pipe 99 has one end thereof connected to a bore of the head 98. The other end of pipe 99 is connected to the port 56a of the operating cylinder 29. The port 59a at the inlet end of the cylinder 29 is connected by the pipe |90, to the valve-housing |0I. A cross-pipe |02 connects the pipe |00 to the exhaust pipe |03, which is also connected at one end thereof to the valve-housing 92. The other end of the exhaust pipe |03 is connected to the valve-'housing |04. This is provided with a valve |05 which is held in normally closed position by the compression spring |06. The lever |01 can be turned clockwise by hand in order to move the spindle of Valve |05 downwardly so as to depress valve lll'iromVV the closing position which is shown in Fig. l, so that the air canvpass through the outlet pipe |09 to the atmosphere. The pipe |03 is connected by a cross-pipe |09 to the head I0 which is rigidly secured to the valvehousing |0|. A flexible diaphragm has its periphery clamped by head H0, to the corresponding enlargement or integral head of the housing |0|. The other end of the housing |0| is sealed by a removable plug I I2. The valve spindle |I4 has valve-heads H5, H6 and H1. This valve spindle I|4 fits loosely in the bore |25a of the housing |0|. The spindle i4 lits closely but slid-V ably in the other bore of housing IOI. A compression spring ||8 normally maintainsl said heads ||5, IIB and ||1, in theV normal positions illustrated in Fig. 1. 7

The air-inlet spipe 32 is connected by a 4crosspipe I|9 to the lport |20 of the valve-housing |01. The connection ibet-ween the cross-pipe |09 and the port |20 is through a coupling |21, which has a fine bore |22, whose cross-section is much smaller than the cross-section of the pipe |59. The function of coupling 12| is similar to the function of coupling 60, namely, to retard the flow of air through pipe H9. The cross-pipe |92 is also provided with a coupling |23, whos-e fine bore |24 is of much smaller vcross-section than the pipes |02 and |03, etc., for the purpose above` mentioned. In order to close the press, the buttons 43 and 43a are simu-ltaneously depressed and held down so that compressed air can .pass through the pipes 32 and 33, through casing 34 and pipe 35 and casing 39, to `pipe 90. Since the manually operated Valve |05 is normally closed, namely, in the ,position shown in Fig. 1, compressed air will be delivered to the pipes |03 and |09, thus flexing the diaphragm III to the position shown in Fig. 2, thus moving the Valve spindle II4 against the force of the spring H8. In the normal position shown in Fig. l, the head I I1 closes the respective end of the bore |25a of the housing I|. During the short interval which is required for moving the head I I6 from the normal position indicated in Fig. 1 to the .position indicated in Fig. 2, there will be some slight leakage of air through the pipe |02 and through the bore I25a, to the external atmosphere, through the 'pipe |25 and the noise-muffler |21. However, this leakage of air will be very slight, because the head IIS quickly closes the respective end of the bore I25a, and the coupling |23 limits the ilow of air through pipe I 02. When th-e spindle II4 has been moved to the position shown in Fig. 2, the compressed air will pass from the branch pipe II9, through the bore |25a, to the pipe |00 and to the port 59a, thus moving the piston 28 outwardly on its power stroke to close the press.

As soon as the piston 28 moves outwardly on its power stroke, the air is compressed above atmospheric pressure in the cylinder 29, forwardly of the `piston 28, because the leakage of air through the casing of the needle valve N is con-- trolled, in order to limit the speed at which the press is closed. However, the needle valve N is regulated, so that said air pressure will not operate diaphragm 91 from its normal position, against the force of spring 99.

In the embodiment of Fig. l, when buttons 43. and 43a are held depressed, compressed air passes from the inlet pipe 32, through pipe 33, casing 34, pipe 35, casing 33, pipe l90, the chamber in which valve 94 is located, pipe |03 and pipe |09, to the chamber in which diaphragm III is located. Said diaphragmV `I I I V.is flexed to the position shown in Fig. 2, so that valve I I 1 is moved away from its seat, and valve I|6 is moved to abut its seat. Compressed air passes simultaneously from kpipe 32 through pipe II9 and the constricted coupling I2 I, to the chamber in whichvalve |I1 is located. However, the area of diaphragm III is suiciently -greater than the area of valve |11, and the constricted coupling I 2| sufciently limits the ow of air into the chamber in which valvel II1is located, sothat the dia. `phragm II |l can move spindle I IIIvtov theV 'position r shown in Fig. 2.

The compressed air can then flow through the chamber in which valve |I1 is located, and through` the bore I25a and through pipe I 00, into the inlet .port 59a of the cylinder 29. The ow of' airA from pipe |03 through pipe |02 into pipe |00, is limited by the iconstricted coupling |23. seated valve II6 prevents the air from exhausting through pipe |25. The seated valve prevents the air from exhausting through outlet |08.

If' the operator releases one cf the buttons 43 or 43a, before the piston 28 has moved to the broken-line position in Iwhich said piston clears the `port 56a, the ilow of compressed air through casings 34 and 3S into pipe 90, is stopped.

The press is not closed, until the piston 23 has passed forwardly beyond and cleared the port The yand |00.

56a. Before the press has closed, it is sometimes necessary to stop the operation of the press and to open the press, in order to straighten out a wrinkle or to do other work cn the garment. In order to work on the garment, the operator must release one or -both of 4the buttons 43`and 43a. Upon releasing one or both of the buttons 43 and 43a, the further admission of compressed air to the pipe 90 is discontinued. Likewise, the compressed air in said pipe 90 can then leak out to the atmosphere, through the outlet pipe 36a or 34a. The compressed air in the pipe |09 then also leaks thro-ugh the pipe 90 to the atmosphere, so that the diaphragm II is restored to its normal original position which is shown in Fig. 1. This shuts off communication between pipes ||9 The air which is Ibehind cylinder 29 in the piston 28 then leaks out to the atmosphere through the pipe |00 and through the bore |25a of valve-housing I0| and pipe I 25 and the muiller |21 and also through the cross-pipe |02 and through the chamber o-f the valve-housing 92- and out through the pipe 90.

Therefore, the vpress is automatically opened by its conventional opening springs, if one or both of the buttons 43 and 43a are released, before the press is completely closed.

When the piston 28 has passed rearwardlyr beyond the port 56a, the full air pressure is maintained in the pipe 99, thus maintaining the diaphragms 91 and III in the respective positions shown in Figs. 3 and 2. The valve 94 then shuts off communication betweenl pipe 90 and housing 92. If buttons 43 and 43a are released, said diaphragms are maintained in their operatedpositions shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that the air can-A not leak out of the cylinder 29 in front of piston 28.

After the pressing operation has been completed, the lever |01 is turned clockwise so as to move valve |05 downwardly against the force of spring |01, thus opening said valve |05. This exhausts the air from pipes |09, |03, |02, |00, and the chamber 92a, in which head 94 is located. When valve |05 is depressed, the compressed air is rapidly exhausted from pipe |09, because this has no construction. 'I'he diaphragm I is therefore rapidly restored to its normal position, so that the compressed air can rapidly leak out through pipe |00, bore. |25a, pipe |25 and muiiler |21. The area of diaphragm II I exceeds the area of valve |I1. Diaphragm III is located in. a chamber which is sealed from bore I25a, by the close fit of spindle I I4 in the bore of housing I 0I', which is directly adjacent the chamber in which diaphragm III is located. Hen-ce, when the. pressure upon the outer face of diaphragm I I I is. released, the pressure of the air in said substana' tially enclosed chamber, and the force ofy spring" Since the spindle 9,3 fits snugly in the bore of? housing 92, compressed air cannot pass fromY chamber 92a to chamber 9212'.

In Fig. 4, the left-hand machine may be desigQ- nated as machine No. 1, and the rightehand machine may be designated The casing of. lever 8| of Fig. 4 is connected by pipe to the casing |04'of machine No. 2. The

The loss of compressed simultaneously as machine No. 2.-

2,314,398 casing of lever 83 of Fig. 4 is connected by pipe 85 to the casing |04 of machine No. 1.

As shown in Fig. 5, each of the machines of Fig. 4 has a table which is provided with a pair of buttons 43 and 43a. The table of machine No. 1 of Figs. 4 and 5, is also provided with levers 8| and |01. When lever 8| is depressed, this exhausts the casing |04 of machine No. 2, thus opening machine No. 2, even though lever |01 of machine No. 2 is in its normal position. When lever |01 of machine No. 1 is turned, this exhausts the air from casing |04 of machine No. 1, thus opening machine No. 1. Machine No. 2 of Fig. 4 is provided with corresponding controls.

The embodiment of Fig. 1 has a first branchline which includes the pipes 90 and |02, for supplying air to inlet-port 59a. This rst branch-line has the first control valve 94. The embodiment of Fig. 1 also has a second branchline for supplying air to inlet-port 59a, which includes pipes ||9 and |00.

This second branch-line has the normally closed second control valve i1. The diaphragm constitutes first fluid-operated pilot means to open the second control valve ||1 and to maintain said valve ||1 open, as long as said diaphragm is connected to a source of fluid under pressure. Said diaphragm is corinected to the pipe 90 of the first branch-line. The diaphragm 91 constitutes second fluid-operated pilot-means which can close the rst control-valve 94. Said diaphragm 91 is connected to the port 59a, which is located rearwardly of the cylinder-inlet 59a.

Whenever I refer to means in the claims, said designation includes one device or a plurality of devices.

Referring to Fig. 1, this shows a first inlet branch line which includes the pipe 90, and a second inlet branch line which includes the pipe H9. Each said branch line is connected, at the inlet end thereof, to the source 32, which delivers fluid under pressure. The outlet end of each said branch line is connected to the inlet port 59a. The rst branch line, which includes the pipe 99, has a first valve 94 which is biased to normal open position by the spring 96. The second branch line, which includes the pipe H9, has a second valve ||1 which is biased to normal closed position. The first pilot-means is connected to said first branch line and said member opens the second valve ||1, under the pressure in said first branch line. The second pilot-member 91 is adapted to close the first valve 94. Fig. 1 also shows means which include the pipe 99 and which are adapted to supply fluid under pressure to the member 91, when the piston 28 is moved forwardly a predetermined distance in its power stroke, so as to clear the port 56a. Fig. 1 also shows operator-controlled exhaust means which include the valve |05, for relieving both members and 91 from the pressure of the uid.

I have described preferred embodiments of the invention, but numerous changes and omissions can be made without departing from its spirit.

I claim:

1. In a press, the combination of a cylinder which has a piston located movably therein, the rear portion of said cylinder having a rear port through which fluid under pressure is admitted to actuate the piston in its forward power stroke to close the press, said cylinder having a second port which is located intermediate said rear inlet and the front end of the cylinder, said piston being located rearwardly of said second port when said piston is located at the rear end of its movement, a first inlet branch-line, a second inlet branch-line, each inlet branch-line being adapted to transmit fluid under pressure, each said branch-line being connected to said rear port, said rst branch-line having a first valve which is biased to normal open position, said second branch-line having a second valve which is biased to normal closed position, rst fluidoperated pilot-means connected to said rst branch-line and adapted to open said second WALTER A. HOCH. 

